New York Daily News

MURDER HE WROTE ON

Trump autographs portraits of slay victims for macabre, anti-immigrant press conference

- BY MEGAN CERULLO

relatives, which bore Trump's autograph in bold marker.

It wasn't immediatel­y clear when the President signed the photos or if the families had asked him to sign them.

Trump used the occasion to tout his immigratio­n policies — insisting that the families' losses will not have been for nothing.

“We will secure our borders, and we will make sure that they're properly taken care of,” he said.

He insisted that illegal immigrants commit violent crimes at a far higher rate than U.S. citizens, despite several studies that have found the opposite. "You hear it's like they're better people than what we have, than our citizens. It's not true," he said.

He also griped about the lack of uproar over the mayor of San Diego's alleged warning to residents about an imminent ICE raid, saying there should be far more outrage.

“And what are they going to do about looking at her, by the way? I've been asking this question now for four weeks. She can do that?” Trump fumed.

However it was Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, a Democrat, who had issued the warning, not San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, a Republican. A White House event Friday honoring people who've been killed by undocument­ed immigrants featured photos of the victims — all of which were autographe­d by President Trump.

Trump highlighte­d the socalled “Angel Families” in an attempt to shift the narrative around his “zero tolerance” immigratio­n policy, which has sparked outrage for separating more than 2,000 immigrant children from their families.

“We're gathered today to hear directly from the American victims of illegal immigratio­n,” Trump said.

“You know, you hear the other side, you never hear this side.”

"These are the American citizens permanentl­y separated from their loved ones. The word 'permanentl­y' being the word that you have to think about. Permanentl­y — they're not separated for a day or two days, these are permanentl­y separated because they were killed by criminal illegal aliens," he said.

Trump accused his opponents of “burying” the families' stories. ‘'

“These are the stories that Democrats and people that are weak on immigratio­n, they don't want to discuss, they don't want to hear, they don't want to see, they don't want to talk about,” he said.

The event had “Angel Parents” standing on stage against a backdrop emblazoned with the phrases “Protect Our Communitie­s” and “Secure Our Borders,” holding photograph­s of 11 deceased

 ??  ?? President Trump shows photo he signed of murder victim Ronald da Silva, whose mother Agnes Gibboney looks on in tears, at event Friday at the White House where Trump tied immigrants to violent crimes.
President Trump shows photo he signed of murder victim Ronald da Silva, whose mother Agnes Gibboney looks on in tears, at event Friday at the White House where Trump tied immigrants to violent crimes.
 ?? AP ?? President Trump meets people holding posters of people allegedly killed by illegal immigrants. Trump autographe­d photos (below) of the victims.
AP President Trump meets people holding posters of people allegedly killed by illegal immigrants. Trump autographe­d photos (below) of the victims.
 ?? EVAN VUCCI/AP ??
EVAN VUCCI/AP

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